Review of Mountain Hardwear Pinnaclet
By Matt Smith

Mountain Hardwear claims the Pinnacle Parka is a result of 9 years of work, development and testing. I can't really speak to that. I can say that hands down, the Pinnacle is my pick for shells this season. I don't know if it is the 15 pounds I lost this summer due to a two week knock down drag out bout with crypto, or if Mountain Hardwear is just adjusting their fit, but the fit of the Pinnacle was perfect. It is fitted enough to hug your body close, without a lot of bulk around the waist, or under the arms. Despite the fit, the Pinnacle leaves adequate room for a fleece, windshirt, or synthetic sweater without binding, and cutting off the circulation to your arms.

The Pinnacle features Mountain Hardwears Conduit laminate to keep you dry, even under moderately aerobic activities. The pit zips are actually functional, and can be easily operated with one hand, once you find the pull. Another noted improvement over other jackets we have previously tested from Mountain Hardwear are the cuffs and hook and loop closures. They are stifffer, with less, but more strategically located patches. Also, the hook and loop patches are sewn between the layers of the cuff, improving the feel and fit of the cuff, especially under a glove. This allowed a full range of adjustment, with minimal bulk.

The brim / visor on the Pinnacle is first class. It is stiff enough to hold its shape even after it has been stowed, packed, and crumpled. I appreciated that feature a lot when the freezing rain was dripping off next to my cheek, instead of ON it.

The interior pocket is large enough for a water bottle, but I don't like the feel of a bottle there. I used the huge pocket for extra gloves, balaclava, goggles...pretty much everything but a water bottle. The exterior pockets are very accessible, even with a pack. I didn't find myself using the chest pockets very much, except to store small items I did't need frequent access to. I never have found the location of "napolean" pockets very useful, but I suppose that is a personal preference issue.

I quickly became addicted to the Pinnacle Jacket, and found myself using it every time I needed a shell, from late November canyoneering trips high on the Colorado Plateau, to celebrating Christmas in the deep powder at Alta. The Pinnacle is quite simply a perfect fit for me, literally, and otherwise.

The proprietary Conduit laminate and Nylon Taslan shell feature welded seams. This not only creates a low maintenance shell, but also improves the long term waterproof / breathable nature of the shell. I also noted that the welded seams suffered much less wear across the back and shoulders due to my pack than do sewn seams.

While overall, the Pinnacle is an exceptional parka, there are a few things I would have preferred different. The hood only has a two-way adjustment. This made it difficult to get a great fit, with or without a helmet. I would have also like to have a little more play in the fabric around the neck to help improve peripheral vision when the hood is up.

Summary: The Pinnacle is my pick of the season for shells / parkas. I would recommend it not only for alpine and high mountain use, but also for general winter use. It looks great, fits and functions better than average, and with the Conduit shell, comes home with you for a clam or two less than a comparable Gore laminate jacket. The Pinnacle can be found for about $300.

For more information contact:
Mountain Hardwear
www.mountainhardwear.com
4911 Central Avenue
Richmond, California 94804
510-559-6700

A special thanks to the folks at Alta Ski area who set us up to test the Pinnacle Parka on site. You can learn more about Alta Ski Area and our other industry partners on our Partners Page.

Matt Smith is the canyoneering specialist at GearReview.com